Car Problems by Make and Model
Owner complaints and safety recalls from NHTSA, the federal vehicle-safety agency, for 94 popular models from 26 makes, 2008–2024. Pick your car to see what owners report most, which years drew the most complaints, and what a mobile mechanic can fix where it sits.
NHTSA data pulled September 2026. Tip: set your car in the “Your vehicle” bar at the top of any page.
Pick your make
Grouped by where the brand comes from, not where the car was built. Electric models have their own section.
American brands
Japanese and Korean brands
European brands
Electric
Models with the most owner complaints
Raw counts follow sales – the vehicles that sell in the biggest numbers get the most complaints. Open a model to see which years and systems stand out.
| Model | Complaints | Recalls | Year with most |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Escape | 23,144 | 77 | 2013 |
| Ford Fusion | 22,384 | 50 | 2010 |
| Ford F-150 | 20,117 | 111 | 2013 |
| Ford Explorer | 15,288 | 86 | 2016 |
| Ram 1500 | 14,361 | 92 | 2014 |
| Ford Focus | 13,406 | 26 | 2012 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 13,297 | 47 | 2011 |
| Ford Edge | 13,019 | 44 | 2013 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 12,620 | 85 | 2014 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 12,169 | 53 | 2014 |
| Honda CR-V | 12,134 | 46 | 2018 |
| Jeep Wrangler | 12,043 | 64 | 2018 |
| Honda Accord | 11,964 | 40 | 2018 |
| Chevrolet Malibu | 10,328 | 40 | 2009 |
| Jeep Cherokee | 10,016 | 39 | 2014 |
What these pages are – and are not
Real owner reports
Every count comes from complaints owners filed with NHTSA. We group them by system and by symptom, and quote a few in the owners' own words.
Not a reliability score
NHTSA does not verify each complaint, and popular cars get more of them. Use the pages to know what to check and what to ask.
Recalls go to a dealer
Open safety recalls are fixed free at a dealer. For everything else, a mobile mechanic can often fix it where the car sits.
Latest recalls
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Hyundai recalls 2015–2016 Genesis and 2017–2020 Genesis G80: Power Seat Motors May Overheat and Catch Fire
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Honda recalls 2023–2026 Accord Hybrid, CR-V Hybrid and CR-V Fuel Cell EV: Tire Repair Kit Cap May Detach
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Ford recalls 2025–2027 F-150: Front Seats May Not Be Properly Secured
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Volkswagen recalls 2023–2026 ID.4: High-Voltage Battery May Catch Fire, Charge to 80% Until Fixed
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Questions
Where does this car problem data come from?
From NHTSA's public databases of owner complaints and safety recalls, pulled in September 2026. NHTSA is the federal agency that oversees vehicle safety.
Does more complaints mean a worse car?
Not on its own. Vehicles that sell in bigger numbers collect more complaints. Compare years and systems within a model rather than ranking models by raw counts.
How do I check recalls on my car?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Open safety recall repairs are free at the brand's dealers.
Where this data comes from
- NHTSA – vehicle safety complaints (public complaint database)
- NHTSA – recalls lookup by VIN
- NHTSA – Product Information Catalog and Vehicle Listing (vPIC)
Complaint and recall records for Vehicles model years in range, retrieved September 2026. Owner quotes are short excerpts from public NHTSA complaint records, lightly cased for reading.